- Oxygen: 625 square feet of lawn provides enough oxygen for one person
for an entire day.
- Temperature: On a block of eight average houses, front lawns have the
cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning.
- Pollution: Turf absorbs gaseous pollutants such as carbon dioxide and
sulfur dioxide, converting them to oxygen.
- Dust and Dirt: Turf traps an estimated 12 million tons of dust and
dirt released annually into the
- atmosphere.
- Fire Retardation: A buffer zone of grass around buildings helps
retard the spread of fire.
- Water Quality: Turf prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from
rainwater and reduces runoff.
HOW TO ACHIEVE A HEALTHY TURF
SOIL TYPE: Grass grows best in soils that have
a mix of clay, silt, sand, key nutrients and proper pH balance. Poor soils can be
improved.
GRASS: A grass type compatible with geographic
conditions will promote the lawn's health, aesthetics and environmental functions.
WATERING: Water only when the lawn needs it,
and then water slowly and deeply. Apply an inch and a half of water each time. Early
morning watering reduces evaporation.
MOWING: Lawns should be mowed high, often and
with a sharp blade. Mowing high fosters proper root development.
GRASS CYCLING: Leaving clippings on the lawn
to decompose returns nutrients to the soil. (See
Lawn Care Grass
Cycling for detailed information.)
FERTILIZER Most lawns need fertilizer to
provide more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium than moist soils can deliver. Over
fertilization can harm lawns. (See
Lawn Care Fertilizer for detailed information.)
PEST CONTROL: Many lawn care
companies use a variety of pest control practices and products. Some are preventive and
some are done as spot applications for weeds, insects and disease problems.
ECOSYSTEM
Mother nature's key to a to owning a low maintenance water
garden is to install a balanced ecosystem which includes a good
circulatory/filtration
system to keep the water moving and flowing. This helps keep the water
clear and clean. Then you must have a sufficient number of fish and water
plants, which compete for the ecosystem's nutrition, and basically starves algae
out of your pond.
You also need to have a sufficient amount of rocks and gravel,
and introduce beneficial bacteria to the water on a regular basis. All of
these elements together make up a balanced ecosystem that actively
encourages Mother Nature to clean up after herself, and minimize the time
required to maintain your water garden.
If all of these elements are introduced into your
water garden in the correct proportion, they form a natural, organic, holistic,
balanced ecosystem. They work together to systematically maintain your
water garden naturally instead of artificially. This allows you the time
to relax with your family and friends, and just enjoy the many benefits of water
gardening.
